Description
A comforting and quick recipe featuring juicy garlic butter chicken bites and creamy Parmesan pasta. Perfect for weeknight dinners or date nights, this dish combines bold flavors with a rich, luscious sauce in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Bites:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:
- 8 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken Bites
- Season the chicken: Toss chicken with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Set aside.
- Add garlic butter: In the same skillet, melt butter, add minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant. Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat. Remove from heat and keep warm.
2. Cook the Pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
3. Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce
- Sauté garlic: Melt butter in the skillet and cook minced garlic until fragrant.
- Create the sauce base: Add heavy cream and simmer gently, stirring often.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Gradually whisk in Parmesan until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Season to taste: Add red pepper flakes (optional), salt, and black pepper.
4. Combine and Serve
- Toss cooked pasta in the Parmesan sauce until evenly coated.
- Plate pasta and top with garlic butter chicken bites. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet with a splash of cream or milk to prevent the sauce from separating.
- Variations:
- Add sautéed vegetables like spinach or mushrooms.
- Substitute shrimp, turkey, or tofu for chicken.
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-searing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Garlic butter chicken Creamy Parmesan pasta Quick weeknight pasta recipes Easy chicken pasta dinner 30-minute comfort food